Ian Buckwalter

Ian Buckwalter is a freelance film writer based in Washington, D.C. He contributes regularly to NPR, Washingtonian, and DCist.

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The True Horror of Rob Zombie's Films: Good Taste Can Make for Bad Movies

The True Horror of Rob Zombie's Films: Good Taste Can Make for Bad Movies

His latest, Lords of Salem, shows a slasher-film fanboy trapped by his influences. More »

Is the Director of <i>Upstream Color</i> a New Breed of Filmmaker?

Is the Director of Upstream Color a New Breed of Filmmaker?

Shane Carruth seems like an heir to Terrence Malick or David Lynch—until you realize how different his career has been from those art-film greats. More »

Steven Soderbergh's Astonishing Last Rebellion

Steven Soderbergh's Astonishing Last Rebellion

Has anyone challenged Hollywood norms at the end of a career as entertainingly as the 'Side Effects' director has? More »

How Immortality Killed 'Die Hard'

How Immortality Killed 'Die Hard'

'A Good Day to Die Hard' makes John McClane invincible. That's why his franchise needs the axe. More »

In Praise of People Talking to Cameras (a.k.a. Traditional Documentaries)

In Praise of People Talking to Cameras (a.k.a. Traditional Documentaries)

'The Gatekeepers', about the Israeli security service, shows the value of no-frill filmmaking. More »

Snow Is the New Noir: In Praise of Wintery Crime Films

Snow Is the New Noir: In Praise of Wintery Crime Films

Snow and ice can double as a clean white backdrop for onscreen action. More »

The 'Universal Soldier' Paradox: When a Bad Franchise Produces a Great Film

The 'Universal Soldier' Paradox: When a Bad Franchise Produces a Great Film

Director John Hyams brings surprising depth and style to what could have been the last-ditch effort from a tired franchise. More »

Feel-Good Films About Disabilities Need to Also Make You Feel Bad

Feel-Good Films About Disabilities Need to Also Make You Feel Bad

Four films this season deal with disabled individuals, and despite its success, 'The Sessions' is the worst of the pack. More »

Low-Budget Horror Flicks: A Hollywood Rite of Passage

Low-Budget Horror Flicks: A Hollywood Rite of Passage

Cheap, creepy movies can scare, bore, and delight audiences, and sometimes launch legendary film careers. More »

Shorter Is Scarier: Why Horror Anthologies Need to Make a Comeback

Shorter Is Scarier: Why Horror Anthologies Need to Make a Comeback

Collections like 'V/H/S' and 'The ABCs of Death' are reminders that on film, terror is best delivered in small doses. More »

How 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' Breaks an Old Filmmaking Curse

How 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' Breaks an Old Filmmaking Curse

Stephen Chbosky's charming coming-of-age movie shows that authors can in fact successfully direct adaptations of their own books. More »

The Anti-'King's Speech': When British Hits Don't Translate to U.S. Audiences

The Anti-'King's Speech': When British Hits Don't Translate to U.S. Audiences

'The Inbetweeners Movie,' like most comedies from England, may be a tough sell in America. More »

In Praise of Good-Guy Actors Playing Horrible People

In Praise of Good-Guy Actors Playing Horrible People

Orlando Bloom's turn as an evil M.D. in 'The Good Doctor' shows that typecast heroes should go really, really bad every now and then. More »

Here's the Twist: Good Films Are Good Even If They've Been 'Spoiled'

Here's the Twist: Good Films Are Good Even If They've Been 'Spoiled'

'Searching for Sugar Man' shows that discovery is thrilling—even if you already know what's going to be discovered More »

The Reason Christopher Nolan Films Look Like Christopher Nolan Films

The Reason Christopher Nolan Films Look Like Christopher Nolan Films

With his longtime cinematographer stepping down after 'The Dark Knight Rises,' the director's distinctive visual style could change. More »

The Right Way for Documentaries to Tell Real Stories With Fake Footage

The Right Way for Documentaries to Tell Real Stories With Fake Footage

'The Imposter' is about a tale stranger than fiction—and used fictionalized sequences to present that tale. More »

The Only Thing That Can Save an End-of-the-World Movie: Good Acting

The Only Thing That Can Save an End-of-the-World Movie: Good Acting

Steve Carell and Keira Knightley elevate 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.' More »

So, Like, Um, How True-to-Life Should Movie Dialogue Be?

So, Like, Um, How True-to-Life Should Movie Dialogue Be?

The excellent 'Your Sister's Sister' makes a convincing case for letting actors improvise their lines. More »

Where Have All the Gigantic, Nuclear-Powered, Horror Monsters Gone?

Where Have All the Gigantic, Nuclear-Powered, Horror Monsters Gone?

'Chernobyl Diaries' plays on old radiation fears with new zombie cliches, but surely another 'Godzilla' is in the works. More »

Ever Wanted to Murder a Reality TV Star? This Movie's For You

Ever Wanted to Murder a Reality TV Star? This Movie's For You

The dark new comedy 'God Bless America' feeds on disgust with pop culture, but also turns its aim on its audience. More »

The Biggest Story in Photos

Photos of Tornado Damage in Moore, Oklahoma

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